Indian Jewelry both old and new has a appeal to me which goes back to my childhood living in Albuquerque, New Mexico. My Grandfather owned an small grocery store across for the old train station, named "White House Grocery." Everyday American Indians walk the streets selling their work and as a little boy I got a first hand look at some of the most beautiful Jewelry, that I was restrained from touching. So it is now a big part of my American Indian collection. I have 2 large bracelets which I get to ware once in a while, an when I go back to Albuquerque, (which is often) I take one with me. The 3 stoned bracelet is made in the 1930's and I picked it up in 1972 from an Antique dealer, whom had it for several years. The Bracelet had to have repair work done on it because the maker had put leather under the stones which caused the stones to crack when the leather drew up to the center. I keep the original stones because of their beautiful color which also seams to get a comment or two from Indian Dealers as well as Collectors who want to know if it for sale. This bracelet is big with a spread large enough to fit my 9 1/2" wrist. The Necklace is a Santa Diemengo Pueblo Necklace made in the 1940's. My mother bought it from a street dealer for a dollar and it is made from red and white plastic, black car batteries and low grade turquoise glued together. The beads are made of bone and they were strung on a cotton string. When most people see this Necklace they think that its is made in a craft class but it is far from that. It took a lot of time and skill to made the Necklace and I enjoy its looks. The Large Bracelet is a modern Bracelet made by an American Navajo by the name of Norman Frazer whom made several item for me in thee 70's as well as repaired the 3 stone bracelet. The single stone is called spider web and gets it name from the black spots found in the stone. Keep you're eyes peeled when looking at jewelry at sales you mite find a Santa Diemengo Pueblo necklace of a buck. Hardbrake

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Comments

Manikin, 3 years agoI love your story about the history of the jewelry ! I wonder if I saw you at one of those roadside shops, stores and gas stations where the beautiful jewelry and Indian crafts were sold . I was in heaven looking at it all . I have a Bracelet maybe you know what stone it is and is it Indian or Mexican ? It was My Moms from the 50's . We would have only traveled into Indian area's but I was in San Diego living at time and I know she cherished this bracelet and it was given to me when she passed many years ago but she wore it a lot . I will give you link to my post on it if you can help ID it would be very grateful :-)

Hardbrake, 3 years agoI would love to look at it, I do not know how much help I could be but it would not hurt to look, Hardbrake

vintagejewel, 3 years agoI love your pieces! Im a huge fan of Native American Turquoise Jewelry the way they are made and the storys that the jewelry tells is Awesome isnt it. Do you know what mine the Turquoise in your cuffs came from? Im glad you kept the original stone with the crack in it you cant get the stones today like yours the colors seem more natural back then (untreated).

Hardbrake, 3 years agoI only know that the spider web came from a nine on the boarder with New Mexico and Arizona. The 3 stone bracelet I do not know but I wish I did, Hardbrake

gotwire, 2 years agoLove your Santa Domingo Thunderbird. I started collecting them a few years back. They are getting harder to find and more expensive. BTW the beads are gypsum from a local source. I restore the broken SD peices and have documented nearly 200 in book form. Thanks for posting. I'll post some of my peices in a few days.

gotwire, 2 years agoCan't get PIECES spelled right to save my life lol

blunderbuss2, 2 years agoIn the late 60's during the turquoise & silver craze, I worked the 3 mesa's area & know how you feel.